Renewing these cleaning accessories periodically is essential to prevent the accumulation of bacteria
When cleaning bathrooms, the kitchen sink and even dishes and glasses, the typical sponge with one smooth side and one rough side is an indispensable item, although unfortunately it is also one of the cleaning items that accumulates the most dirt.
This makes it a breeding ground for the proliferation of all kinds of bacteria and other potentially harmful microorganisms. That is why it is necessary to renew it frequently to make sure we avoid it.
The trick of cutting the corners of sponges and scouring pads
We can wash the scouring pad we use to scrub the dishes after using it and even try to disinfect it in the microwave, but after a while we will probably no longer like to continue cleaning the dishes with it and decide to use a new one.
At this point it is possible to try to give it a new use and, instead of throwing it away, use it for other “less delicate” cleaning tasks. This is the case, for example, in bathrooms, inside sinks or on kitchen worktops. It is also useful for removing heavier dirt in areas such as outdoor floors, bathroom walls or even rubbish bins and outdoor areas.
The problem arises when it comes to storing these cleaning items, because if there is not much space available we will probably have to do it in a single drawer or cabinet together with the rest of the items and that brand new sponge that we have just used for the dishes.
And this is where the trick of cutting the tip of the old sponge or scourer comes in, a marking system that makes it easier to distinguish at a glance and almost without noticing the worn one from the one that is still in full working order.
We can make several cuts to differentiate between types of use. For example, the scouring pad without cuts is the best and we will use it to scrub dishes and glasses, the one with a single cut indicates that it can be used to clean the sink and with two cuts it is for cleaning the bathroom.
How often should the scouring pad be replaced?
Although there are some methods for disinfecting and reducing the amount of bacteria and fungi that accumulate in sponges and scouring pads, such as putting them in boiling water or a couple of minutes in the microwave, the truth is that over time none of them are sufficient to completely sterilize them.
Therefore, the ideal is to renew these cleaning accessories every week or every 15 days at the most, depending on how much we use them on a daily basis. Using the same sponge for a long time creates an environment conducive to the proliferation of bacteria, which can pose a health risk.
In addition, a scouring sponge that is used a lot not only loses its cleaning efficiency, but can also end up contaminating surfaces and freshly washed dishes. Of course, it is important to separate them by function, hence the importance of the trick of marking them, since it is convenient to have one for the dishes, another for the sink, another for the bathroom, etc.
